Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
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My experience of the Politics and International Relations Festival 2022
MA Peace and Development student Georgina Halliday looks back on the 2022 Politics and International Relations Festival and discusses some of the events that interested her the most.
The Politics and International Relations Groups’ PIR Festival is an annual event where students and the public come together to discuss contemporary political issues. It’s filled with sessions from experienced scholars and experts in their field.
I am a postgraduate student currently studying Peace and Development. I intentionally wanted to experience a range of situations during my studies at Leeds Beckett University, so the PIR Festival was my opportunity to do just that.
The festival took place over the course of two weeks and was made up of 12 events, taking place both virtually and on-campus. It featured Leeds Beckett Alumni who shared their experience and what they are up to now. Each session started with a welcome note by the host, introduction of participants and speakers, followed by the speaker’s presentations and follow up Q&A session.
The festival was very informative and insightful. I was in awe of the variety of topics discussed and the number of people who took the time to talk about the different issues.
ADVANCES IN GENDER JUSTICE: THE WOMEN’S COURT FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
Dr Maria O'Reilly shared insightful discourse on Advances in Gender Justice speaking on the women’s court using an alternative mechanism of justice for women who experienced injustice in different forms. It's a feminist take on justice to help respond better to the needs of survivors and the community. It acknowledges women's experiences. She also highlighted some successes and limitations to the women’s court of former Yugoslavia.
INVOLVING PEOPLE’S VOICES IN THE MIDST OF ARMED CONFLICT
Professor Rachel Julian presented on involving people’s voices in the midst of armed conflict. I was excited to describe conflict using pictures and animals I felt represented the issue being discussed. I realised how easy it was for me to use the metaphor to express my knowledge, and I found it a very interesting way to express myself other than the conventional way known to all. I learned the importance of the meaning of people’s stories.
TERRORIST DRONES
There was a session on terrorist drones where Dr James Rogers gave an in-depth analysis of the effect of drones, stating that there are no laws regulating them yet, which makes it a porous space for terrorists to take advantage and cause chaos. It’s important to note that drones are not just used by state actors but also non-state actors who are increasingly using drones now for terrorism.
UKRAINE AND THE WORLD ECONOMY, A MARXIST ANALYSIS
An interactive session by a Marxist expert, Michael Roberts, put the spotlight on the current crisis between Ukraine and Russia and discussed what is needed to restore the nation and how the sanctions on the Russians will lead to a drop in their standard of living. From a Marxist point of view, he analysed the nature of the current crisis and held discussions on what the interest of both countries are in the crisis.
There was also a session with Alumni Sean Benstead about working for a think tank filled with useful information for interested students.
I’d encourage students to participate in the PIR Festival because it’s a platform that provides insights on topics relevant to the course and the political space. Learning and discussions fostered are crucial to understanding how they affect the politics and economy of developing countries.
